Automating the OODA loop in the age of intelligent machines: reaffirming the role of humans in command-and-control decision-making in the digital age

This article argues that artificial intelligence (AI) enabled capabilities cannot effectively or reliably compliment (let alone replace) the role of humans in understanding and apprehending strategic environment to make predictions judgments inform decisions. Furthermore, rapid diffusion growing dependency on AI technology at all levels warfare will have consequences counterintuitively increase importance human involvement these tasks. Therefore, restricting use automate decision-making tasks a tactical level do little contain control effects this synthesis warfare. The re-visits John Boyd’s observation-orientation-decision-action metaphorical cycle (or “OODA loop”) advance an epistemological critique AI-enabled (especially machine learning approaches) augment command-and-control processes. In particular, draws insights from emphasis “orientation” as schema elucidate cognition (perception, emotion, heuristics) defense planning non-linear world characterized by complexity, novelty, uncertainty. It also engages with Clausewitzian notion “military genius” – its “mission command” cognition, systems, evolution theory consider implications automating OODA loop.